In my previous lectures I have had occasion to mention the principle of
cohesion; but it plays so vital a part in the constitution of States and
their relations to each other that I consider it advisable to devote
this lecture entirely to it.
This is a large and comprehensive subject, and embraces such principles
as the Centralization of States; the Co-operation of States; Monogamic
Marriage; Unions; Free Trade, and many others equally important. We have
already noticed that cohesion is a well-known property of matter; that
its influence is not confined to the regions of physical sciences; and
that it is the manifest duty of all governments to increase the force
of cohesion.
Various methods have been tried to accomplish this purpose. The
principle of Feudalism was one of the earliest attempts to produce the
cohesion of the nation; and, in an elementary condition of society, it
was partly successful. The theories of 'Divine Right' and 'Social
Contract' were other methods which have been adopted; and the unity of
the Christian Church has been the great means of producing the cohesion
of the State in olden times; and its aid may be again required for the
same beneficent object in future complications and social disruptions.
But it is always advantageous in scientific pursuits to go back to first
principles; and we will adopt that method in our present investigations.
The social unit is the family; the multiplication of families makes the
tribe; the multiplication of tribes makes the State; and, therefore, we
shall not be far wrong if we consider the family tie as the first
principle of political cohesion. I am in agreement with several learned
thinkers upon this subject when I say that marriage is a most important
political factor; and as marriage cannot take place without women, it is
evident that women play a very important part in promoting the cohesion
of the State.
This prominent position was duly assigned to women by one of our
greatest political philosophers, M. Auguste Comte, who strongly opposed
the fatal fallacy of ancient political systems, which greatly
overestimated the powers of men, and depreciated those of women. If the
superiority of bodily strength be the sole cause of greatness in
political and intellectual pursuits, then, most noble lords of creation,
we yield to you the palm--you are our masters in this respect. But if,
on the other hand, it can be shown that physical strength is not a
requisite for great achievements in these occupations; if the powers of
endurance, elasticity, adaptability, nervous energy, and patience are
quite as needful as mere animal strength; then we women are quite as
capable, and indeed more capable than men, for achieving political
greatness. In the 'good old days,' when the law of might was right, and
the strongest arm was the most powerful machinery in the government of
the country, women were compelled naturally to occupy a less prominent
position in the conduct of the affairs of the nation; and for centuries
they have been degraded by a dominating tradition, and supposed
incapable of performing duties for which they were mentally well suited.
But those militant days are past. Animal strength and brute force are no
longer needed in the councils of the nation; and the time has arrived
when women should cease to be oppressed by the disparaging, illogical
deductions of former generations, and when their assistance ought to be
invoked in the great work of promoting the nation's welfare.
I have stated that marriage is an important political factor; and,
therefore, women have always occupied a primary, though obscure, part in
political affairs. The cohesion of the State has been produced by the
secret influence of family life. But it may be asked, What kind of
marriage is most conducive to national cohesion? This question has been
carefully and conclusively answered by a learned scientific writer, who
shows that polygamic marriage never exists in an advanced state, as
instanced by the history of Judaism and Mohammedanism; that a strict
form of monogamic marriage is essential to political greatness and true
progress in civilization. The cohesion of the State is destroyed by
polygamy, and by any system which relaxes the binding nature of the
marriage tie. 'Domestic disorganization is a sure augury of political
disruption.'
Cohesion, the essential property of all rightly constituted nations, is
often in danger of being lost when the State is geographically very
large, or when local interests have greater power than the attractive
force of the central government. To obviate this evil, the method of
centralization has been adopted with satisfactory results, as in the
case of the United States of America, and Germany.
By this means the local authorities are brought into close relationship
with the central head, and the centrifugal influences of independent
interests and customs are counteracted by the force of central
attraction. Centralization increases the importance of the whole body,
and, like the pendulum of a clock, regulates the movements of the whole
State. In some cases it tends to make the government despotic, when the
local governments are entirely under the control of the central; and
every enactment, and scheme, and plan checked and supervised by the
chief officers of the State. Such was the system adopted in France by
Napoleon III. But cohesion without the enforcement of a hard and rigid
connection, a general supervision without severe tyrannical
jurisdiction, are the best methods of securing the unity of composite
States.
But the force of cohesion is evidently at work in the nation apart from
centralization. Men who have a community of interests unite together
for the purposes of strength and mutual assistance. They combine for the
sake of securing means of support in sickness, and form benefit
societies, such as the Order of Oddfellows or Foresters. This force of
cohesion has produced trade unions, and similar institutions which exist
for the purpose of protecting a common interest, and giving expression
to the concurrent opinions of the members. These have their legitimate
use in every civilized State, in spite of some of the disadvantages
which follow in their train. There are, of course, opposed interests in
every community: _attractive_ forces, which produce trade unions,
guilds, corporations, companies, and the like; and _repulsive_ forces,
which result from the opposed interests of employers and employed,
landlords and tenants, and similar pairs of different classes in the
community. As time goes on, and the State advances with it, these forces
will gain in strength; the cohesion of classes will become greater;
association will grow as naturally as the bubbles form on the surface
of our evening beverage. It is a law of nature, and therefore cannot be
resisted. But the repulsive forces will be no less strong, and to
calculate the resultant of these contending interests will be the
problem for practical statesmen to solve.
The force of cohesion is also evidently at work, not only in individual
States, but also amongst the nations of Europe, and of the world. That
is to say, there is an evident desire for co-operation on the part of
those nations who have attained to the highest degree of civilization
and internal cohesion. International law is based on the principle of
cohesion, and every day it is gaining power and favour in the eyes of
our leading statesmen. The doctrine of Free Trade, which, if universally
adopted, would be of the greatest service to mankind, results from a
desire for co-operation; and whatever evils may result from one-sided
Free Trade in this country at the present time, there can be no doubt
that ultimately the complete system will be adopted.
Sad is the fate of a nation when the force of cohesion is weakened. The
first revolution in France is a proof of this assertion; there was no
cohesion, no common faith, or loyalty to the throne and Government; and
indeed the Government, which was rotten to the core, was hardly likely
to awake any feelings of loyalty and respect; and therefore the social
disruption which followed was only a natural sequence of events, and was
prophesied with the accuracy with which an astronomer can foretell an
eclipse. But that is not all; when the cohesion of the State is
destroyed, it takes a long time to restore the action of the force; and,
as in the case of France, further disruption is sure to take place.
In this lecture I have already enumerated some of the ways in which this
force acts; there are doubtless others which will suggest themselves to
you. But I contend that the prosperity of the State, and the peace of
the world, depend upon cohesion. Let this be your work, most noble
professors, to promote the action of this helpful and life-giving
force. Promote, as far as in you lies, the sacred union of family life.
Encourage the generous feelings of true loyalty and patriotism amongst
the people of this realm of England; counsel our statesmen with regard
to the primary necessity of national cohesion, and the advantages of
international co-operation; and your work will be blessed; your names
will rank with those heroes of the sword and of the pen who have raised
our beloved country to her present pinnacle of greatness and prosperity;
and your memory will live in the hearts of your grateful countrymen.
[Editorial Note.]--We regret to state that the various MSS. in the
sealed desk are nearly exhausted, and are therefore compelled to present
the series of lectures on polemical studies in an incomplete form. But
we had the good fortune to light upon a brief diary which discloses some
interesting information with regard to the Author's life and
occupations. We append a few extracts:
Extracts from the Author's Diary.
_June 3rd_.--Arnold called again to-day--the fifth time during the last
fortnight! His attention is rather overpowering, and wastes much of my
valuable time. He says he hates science--the heathen!--and wants me to
lecture in classics. He affirms that mathematics are dry and hard--too
hard for women, and tend to make them unsympathetic and critically
severe. I am afraid I was rather severe with him. But really he is very
trying, and always seems to talk like a Greek chorus in the most
profound platitudes. Arnold is a classical tutor at Clare College. My
old pupil is getting on famously. Poor fellow! he seems quite oppressed
with his work. But he is making great progress, and sticks to his books
like--a student of Girtham College!
_June 4th_.--Lectured on the Scientific Basis of Blackstone's
Commentaries; afterwards received pupils until 1 p.m. Really Blanch
S---- is more tiresome than ever. It appears that she has taken up with
a young undergraduate of King's, and there is no prospect of any
improvement in her work unless this nonsense is terminated. How foolish
some of my sex are, in spite of their improved opportunities! I blush
for them! Arnold has sent me a copy of Robert Browning's 'Belaustion,'
in order to make me like classics, and give up science. Misguided young
man! He has written some tolerable verses on the fly-leaf; but I have no
intention of playing Belaustion to his 'entranced youth.' These are his
verses:
'My lady dear, if I may call you so,
For you are dearer than all else beside,
I know the love you bear to golden verse,
To golden thoughts enshrined in classic lore,
To all that's beautiful; so here I send
Some echoes of the songs of ancient days,
Attuned and chanted by an English bard,
Who fires one's old love for the rolling lines
Of youthful Hellas; may your cultured ear
Receive, and gladly welcome his sweet song.
And while we revel in the poet's dream,
And hear his actors speak, we'll play our parts.
You, sweet Belaustion on the temple-steps,
Taking your captors captive by your voice;
And I, the youth who, more entranced than all,
Was bound by fetters that he would not loose;
And so we'll play our part. What say you, dear?'
_June 6th_.--Have just seen our new Professor of Physics, Amelia
Cordial, who is an excellent woman, and well suited for the high office
which she holds. She has told me of the foolish conduct of Lady Mary,
who is evidently of opinion that the professorial mantle ought to have
fallen on her shoulders. Really, this jealousy in the ranks of the
learned is most disgraceful; and the bickerings which arise from
disappointed ambition, the envyings and silly quarrels, are the weak
places in our female collegiate system.
Such good news! The wrangler list is just out, and my hard-working pupil
is _bracketed twelfth!_ This is really delightful, and abundantly repays
us for all our hard toil. But really I have not found working with him
distasteful; he is such an excellent pupil, so painstaking and eager,
that I have quite looked forward to his coming, and found him much more
interesting than some of these foolish maidens. But I almost dread
seeing him. He will be so elated and overpoweringly grateful, whereas I
ought to be grateful to him for all his work for me; for I am sure he
would never have gone in for the Tripos if I had not persuaded him.
Well, I wonder why he does not come to tell me of his triumph.
_June 7th_.--_It_ has come! and I half expected it. My eager pupil
writes with all the energy and love of his noble nature to ask me to be
his wife! He says _that_ is all he cares for, and only values his
Honours as a step to a higher honour and dignity, that of gaining my
love and being my husband. All this is very nice to read; but a terribly
difficult problem is placed before me for solution. I do indeed love
this dear, good fellow--no one could help doing so, I am sure; but do I
not love science more? There is a stringent regulation in this
University that no one shall occupy the position of professor who is
bound by any domestic ties or cares. All married women are excluded. If
I say 'Yes,' I must resign my high position, leave this beloved college,
give no more lectures to entranced audiences. In the interests of
science, ought I to refuse, and sacrifice my heart's affections for the
cause of mathematics? But if I say 'No,' I must give up--_him_;
sacrifice his happiness too, and blight his life. Was ever anyone so
perplexed? Science, aid thine obedient servant! May I not determine this
vital question by thine all-pervading light?...
* * * * *
[Editorial Note.]--We had just arrived at this exciting moment in the
life of the learned and accomplished lady whose writings form the
subject of these pages--a moment when love and science were trembling in
the balance--when a footstep was heard upon the stairs leading to our
study, and ere we could secrete our MS. the door was opened, and a
well-known voice exclaimed:
'I do not know why you should have become so studious lately, Ernest,
and why you should refuse to take me into your confidence. You spend
hours and hours in this room all by yourself, writing away, and never
say a word to me about the subject of your literary work. There was a
time when things were different, and you were not so slow in availing
yourself of my help, and asking my advice.'
We murmured something about taking up the pen which had been laid aside
by a far abler hand, and our deep gratitude for past assistance in our
work, which could never be forgotten.
'And do you think that I cannot help you now?' our visitor replied, in a
very injured tone of voice. 'Is the old power dead, because it has not
recently been used? Ernest, I think you very ungrateful not to confide
in me. Come, tell me what you are writing.'
A suggestion about the proverbial curiosity of women rose to our lips,
but died away without utterance. In the meantime, her eyes wandered over
our study-table strewed with papers, and lighted upon the well-worn
desk.
'Why, Ernest, where did you find this? My dear old desk, which has been
lost ever so long! I do believe you have been ransacking its contents!
Why did you not tell me that you had found it? What are you doing with
my papers, sir?'
The mischief was out! We tried to explain that the world ought not to be
deprived of that which would benefit mankind; that the peace and
prosperity of the country might be sacrificed if it were deprived of
these discoveries of science, which were calculated to secure such
beneficial results.
At length we gained our point, and obtained the full sanction of the
late Lady Professor of Girtham College to publish her papers. Thus her
obedient pupil is enabled to repay his late instructress for all her
kindness to him, and in some measure to compensate the scientific and
political world for the loss of one of its most original investigators
in the regions of polemical studies, which, not without a struggle, she
resigned when she deigned to become his wife.